Users full of praise for IT platform BowlsLink
Having been online for several months now, Bowls Australia’s new information technology platform BowlsLink has drawn praise from bowlers across the country in a variety of roles.
BowlsLink went active in early October last year after about two years of development.
The system is currently being used to manage membership and record pennant results in Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia and Western Australia.
The Southern Tasmanian Bowls Association was one of the first organisations to use the system when it was launched last year. Southern Tasmania executive assistant Paul Hoddy said the scope of BowlsLink to grow is exciting.
“The benefits of it are quite good, with continuous updates meaning the system just gets better and better,” he said.
“Future improvements can only make it better than what it currently is. Early on we were fumbling a little bit, but a few issues have been ironed out and it’s quite smooth and easy to use.”
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Mr Hoddy said BowsLink also allows clubs to lighten the load from a few individuals.
“In the past there was just one password and login, meaning there were restrictions on who could enter scores. Multi users are now allowed which is fantastic,” he said.
The new system has also been lauded from a competition management perspective.
“By and large it has been a great success with pennant competition,” Geelong Pennant Recorder Graeme Wright said.
“Nobody has been ringing up and complaining which is a great sign. There are the occasional things people aren’t savvy enough to do, but that is to do with computers, not BowlsLink.”
“By and large it has been a great success…”
To go with the new competition management interface, players are also able to view more in-depth individual statistics.
NSW Zone 5 match committee chairman Col Crossingham said this feature will be greatly utilised by selectors.
“It’s fanatsic to be able to see every player. It’s a huge benefit to selectors to see how all players are performing, not just skips,” he said.
“There was a learning curve for everyone when we started using it, but it has definitely been worth getting to learn how to use.”
Players have also enjoyed the ability to analyse previous games and player performances.
“I find it extremely useful as a player, in particular analysing potential opposition for the next match, looking at the stats,” Phil Ions said, a bowler at Cremorne in Tasmania.
“It’s also good seeing what has happened on any given pennant day. I use the system a hell of a lot and my perspective is it’s lightyears ahead of what we were previously using.”
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BowlsLink is not only being used at a club or regional level either, with Bowls Australia-run event results entered through the system.
“For the players it has been a really easy to view system, with competitions and results very accessible,” Bowls Australia Events and Competition Manager Andrew Howie said.
“It will be an important feature for us at next year’s Australian Open and World Bowls Championships.”
The system has already been put to good use at events such as the Bowls Premier League and Australian Championships.
As the system continues to develop and improve, the support from Bowls Australia staff has been well received.
“We’ve been over the moon with the support we have had. It’s been a bonus to get on the phone to someone get the right information straight away,” Mr Crossingham said.
“And if there’s something they’re not sure of, it doesn’t take them long to find out for you.”
